The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1887-12-22

PROFESSOR HJALMER II. BoYEsON,
of Columbia college, N. Y, in his ad-
dress before the Evangelical Associa
tion, recently closed at Washington.
upon the subject of immigration, pre-
sented ITS bearing upon our institu-
tions and industries, in a manper
which contains much worthy of seri-
Gus reflection:
The constitution of the United
States, he said. was framed by men o.
Anglo Saxon origin ter their own gov
ernment, and presuploses the long
political evolution to which that race
has been subjected. To pre-suppose
such Anglo Saxon virtues as moderate
self restraint and sense of fair play,
of these not having such antecedents,
is absurd. Immigration, which draws
from the lower strata of Europe. is
changing the character of the people,
and gradually eliminating the virtues
which are indispensable TO successful
self-government. A change has come
over the spirit Of the immigrant, Ow.
ing to the fact that he does not inn.
prove his lot as much as formerly by
immigration, The Socialists and the
Anarchists come to avehge here what
they suffered in Europe. By their
disloyal sentiments and hostility to
American institutions they disorgan-
ize and weaken the State. The third
estate (the industrial CLASSY is the gov
erniDg class in this country. But now
the fourth estate-the manual labor
ers, who forn erly framed NO political
demands-has raised its head aud has
begun to contest with the third estate
the directing power in this country.
Hence arise discomfort and social and
economic cOnvulslOns.
Though regretting this exercise of
power, the speaker did not see how,
with universal suffrage and unrestrict.
ed immigration. 1t was to be averted.
He believed that the time had arrived
when our former policy of indiscrim-
inata absorption of foreign elements
of population would result in serious
crisis. The nation no longer is able
to assimilate the alien elements with
sufficient rapidity. The children OF
aliens make q terrible exhibit in the
statistics of pauperism and crime.
They constitute largely the hoodlums
and roughs of our cities. The public
schools have intoxicated men with a
spirit of Independence, without inn
pressing upon them the responsibility
Of liberty. The employers of labor
are able to defeat strikes by means of
immigration. More com petition with
American labor enters in week thro'
Castle Garden than the prisons turn
out in q year. Protection to American
labor is farce as long as this unbarred
fioodgate remains open. Emigration
has the effect of lowering the grade of
American civilization, by introducing
an undue competition with people
who demand less Of life. He had
known Hungsrians who saved money
on wages of one dollar q day. They
changed their linen once q month and
picked their dinners out of ash barrels.
Competition with such people was inn.
possible for self respecting laborers.
People who live like pigs also present.
ly behave like pigs. Professor Boyeson
said la conclusion that he was in favor
of law which wonld make consular
inspection and q certificate of good
character indispensable perquisites to
neutrality-suspicious. such law
as that proposed by Senator Palmer.
THE great grand daughter of Robert
-, Ga, ~ -